LondonDucklings
  • London Areas
    • Central London
      • City of London
      • Mayfair
      • South Bank
      • Trafalgar Square
      • West End & Covent Garden
      • Westminster
    • East London
      • Canary Wharf
      • Hackney
    • South East London
      • Greenwich
      • Southwark
    • South West London
      • Richmond upon Thames
    • West London
      • Kensington & Chelsea
    • North London
      • Camden
  • Places to Visit
    • Farms & Zoos
    • Famous Landmarks
    • Farmers Markets
    • Museums
    • Parks
    • Pick Your Own Farms (PYO)
    • Sunday Markets
    • Teenage Friendy
    • Toddler Friendly
  • Activities & Sports
    • Cycling
    • Family Walks & Trails
    • Horse Riding
    • Indoor Playgrounds
    • Outdoor Playgrounds
    • Roller Skating
    • Scooting
    • Skateboarding
    • Water Parks & Paddling Pools
    • Wildlife Exploration
  • Games & Education
    • Boardgames
    • Colouring Pages
    • Emoji Riddles
    • Movies & TV series
    • London Quizzes
    • Apps & Games
    • Home Education
  • What’s On
    • This Weekend
    • Halloween🎃
    • Christmas🎅
Horseferry Playground
LondonOutdoor PlaygroundsParks & PlaygroundsThings to Do

Horseferry Playground next to the Palace of Westminster

by LondonDucklings December 1, 2020
Published: December 1, 2020Last Updated on July 20, 2022
2.4K

Horseferry Playground is a wonderful gem of a playground for families visiting Central London with young kids. Hidden behind the Palace of Westminster in Victoria Tower Gardens it’s just a stone throw away from London’s famous attractions.

Sandpit in Horseferry Playground
Horseferry Playground with Victoria Tower and Palace of Westminster in the background

Victoria Tower Gardens

The area around the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey can get very crowded with tourists and it’s nice to have Victoria Tower Gardens as an escape route not far away. Located along the Thames Path, this patch of green feels like a sanctuary ideal for summer picnics taking a break from Central London‘s busy streets.

Victoria Tower Gardens in autumn with The Buxton Memorial in the foreground. In the background, Victoria Tower.

Horseferry Playground Historic Roots

Horseferry Playground got its name from the old ferry crossing connecting Westminster with Lambeth Palace on the other side of the Thames. Ferrying people and animals across the Thames was completely normal back in the days when London Bridge was the only permanent structure crossing the river.

Horseferry Playground in Westminster
Jumping on the music chimes in Horseferry Playground

The playground space is open plan and it’s easy to keep an eye on the children while letting them explore on their own. It’s a contemporary playground refurbished in recent years, with a nice mix of play equipment suitable for toddlers and young children.

Horse statues in playground

Fun things to see around Horseferry Playground

  • Queen’s Life Guard – head over to Whitehall and watch the mounted horse guards
  • Big Ben – the iconic clocktower is a symbol of London recognized all over the world
  • Palace of Westminster – the seat of the UK government
  • Westminster Abbey – the site of English and British coronations
  • Tate Britain – London’s classic art gallery
  • Buckingham Palace – get up early and watch the changing of the guard
  • Vauxhall City Farm – small but popular farm on the other side of the river
 
boy relaxing in playground
There’s plenty of seats around the playground area

A Modern Playground

Our three year old enjoyed running around the park trying out the sandpit, swing, slide, dance chimes while the water play was closed off when we visited. All of the installations felt safe, and there’s a good amount of space between the different areas so it didn’t feel crowded.

boy jumping in playground

The design elements are original and enticing, like the half-buried horses sticking up from the ground inviting kids to clamber on.

There’s also a refreshment kiosk on-site and plenty of seating for parents around the perimeter of the playground.

If you’re looking for a play area in Central London, Horseferry playground should definitely be on your radar in case you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

Key Information Horseferry Playground

  • Free entry
  • Outdoor
  • Type: Playground
  • City of Westminster
  • Area: Central London
  • Tube: Westminster
  • Nearby: Big Ben
  • The Royal Parks Website
Share FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmail

Recommended

The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Playgrounds in London

10 Safe Family-Friendly Cycle Routes in London

Natural History Museum: 8 Fun Areas for Kids

Recommended

  • Greenwich Park Embarks on a Remarkable Transformation

    November 2, 2023
  • Buckingham Palace Quiz for Kids

    October 17, 2023
  • Big Ben Quiz

    October 15, 2023

© 2023 LondonDucklings - Contact - Newsletter - About Us - Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Buy me a Coffee ☕


Back To Top
  • London Areas
    • Central London
      • City of London
      • Mayfair
      • South Bank
      • Trafalgar Square
      • West End & Covent Garden
      • Westminster
    • East London
      • Canary Wharf
      • Hackney
    • South East London
      • Greenwich
      • Southwark
    • South West London
      • Richmond upon Thames
    • West London
      • Kensington & Chelsea
    • North London
      • Camden
  • Places to Visit
    • Farms & Zoos
    • Famous Landmarks
    • Farmers Markets
    • Museums
    • Parks
    • Pick Your Own Farms (PYO)
    • Sunday Markets
    • Teenage Friendy
    • Toddler Friendly
  • Activities & Sports
    • Cycling
    • Family Walks & Trails
    • Horse Riding
    • Indoor Playgrounds
    • Outdoor Playgrounds
    • Roller Skating
    • Scooting
    • Skateboarding
    • Water Parks & Paddling Pools
    • Wildlife Exploration
  • Games & Education
    • Boardgames
    • Colouring Pages
    • Emoji Riddles
    • Movies & TV series
    • London Quizzes
    • Apps & Games
    • Home Education
  • What’s On
    • This Weekend
    • Halloween🎃
    • Christmas🎅